Crate.



B. A. LANGE.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 1916.

3,910,954, Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

UNliTE %TATE% hfdlfQ.

BEBTHOLID A. LANGE, O1? WEBSTER GRGVES, MISSOURL CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Original application filed March 26, 1914, Serial No. 827,432. Divided and this application filed March 27, 1916. Serial No. 86,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnnrnonn A. LANGE, a citizen of the United States, residing'at the city of \Vebster Groves, in the county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division and continuation of one filed by me on March 26, 191%, Serial No. 827,432, which issued as Patent 1,179,8 l5, dated April 18, 1916.

The present invention relates to improvements in shipping crates or cases and more particularly to that class especially adapted for the purpose of receiving eggs, electric light bulbs, or other fragile articles, and holding them in such a position as to prevent breakage during transportation.

The primary object of the invention. is the provision of a shipping case so constructed that eggs or other fragile articles may be held therein against breakage while being shipped.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shipping case or crate including a plurality of sections arranged for positioning in superimposed relation to each other, and designed to hold between the sections thereof, eggs or other like fragile articles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shipping case or crate for eggs or the like including a plurality of sections, each being composed of a pair of rectangular frames, having clamped between the edges thereof, cooperating plates of substantially flexible material apertured to receive opposite portions of eggs or other like fragile articles and to hold them against breakage during transportation.

A. still further object of the invention is the provision of a shipping case or crate for eggs or the like which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily operated.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the present invention resides in the novel features of constructions, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the present application, it being understood in this connection, that various minor changes in the specific details of constructions can be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a shipping case or crate constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fi is a transverse sectional view taken through a case or crate of this invention; and Fig. 3 is afragmentary perspective view showing a portion of one of the frames removed.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing by corresponding characters of reference throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates in general my improved shipping crate or case which consists of an outer housing or receptacle 6, preferably of rectangular formation. l Vithin this outer receptacle 6 are arranged a plurality of frames 7 which are of like formation, each consisting of a pair of opposite side bars 8 and 9 connected at their terminals by pairs of end bars 10 and 11.

The bars 8 and 10 as shown in the drawing are preferably narrower than the bars 9 and 11 for a purpose to be later explained.

in order to strengthen the frames, the bars 9 are connected by transverse braces 19., which are terminally secured to the inner faces of the same, intermediate the ends thereof.

l lates 18, which conform to the contour of the frames 7 have their edges disposed between the contacting edges of the strips S10 and 9-11, to which they are secured in any preferred manner such as by gluing, nailing o-r the like.

The frames 7 are arranged within the housing 6 in cooperating pairs such as indicated by 14 and 15, with the narrow strips 8 and 10 in engagement.

The adjacent plates 13 of the pairs of frames 14 and 15 are formed with alining openings of av size sufficient to receive opposite portions of the eggs, such as designated at 16 in Fig. 1. It is to be understood in this connection, however, that the eggs andelectric light bulbs are shown merely for the purpose of illustration, and that any other articles may be shipped in the crates or cases 5, whichever may be desired.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the openings 18 in the adjacent plates 13 of each of the pairs of frames IA and 15 are cut from the inner sides of the plates so that the material surrounding said openings projects outwardly as at 19, which lendsa clamping causing them to grasp the articles contained therein and hold them against displacement.

As shown in the drawings, the plates 13 are formed preferably from heavy card board or any other material which contains a certain amount of flexibility, in order that the articles contained within the crate will be held yieldingly, relative to the housing or outer receptacle 6 and also to the rigid portions of the frames 7, in order that they will not be broken, should the crate or case for any reason receive a jar during transportation.

It will be noted that the strips 12 rest against the outer sides of the plates 13 of the pairs of frames 14 and 15. These strips serve an additional function to bracing the frames 7 namely, to prevent the upwardly bowing of the central portions of the plates 13 which would cause a relax in the grip ofthe plates upon the articles to be shipped and would have a tendency to allow them to work loose, thereby causing breakage.

By forming the side and end members of one frame of each pair of narrower dimensions than the corresponding parts of the next adjacent frame, an enlarged space is provided between each pair of egg supporting plates 13. It has been found necessary in practice to provide a greater space between the pairs of plates 13 as at 20 than 15 required between the plates of a pair as at 21. The reason for this is that the lowermost end of the eggs or other oval objects carried by the plates 13, project to a greater or lesser extent through the openings 18 according to their size and shape and are therefore liable to contact with the eggs of the next adjacent row unless sufficient space is provided. I

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

feature to the plates 13,.

pairs of side and end members, cooperating plates disposed with their edges secured between the pairs of side and end members of each pair of frames, said cooperating plates having alining apertures formed therein, said side and end members upon opposite sides of the plates of each frame being of different width, and the frames being arranged in said housing with the narrow side and end members of each pair of frames in engagement.

'2. In a shipping case or crate for eggs or the like, a housing, frames removably disposed therein, with the edges of one frame resting upon the edges of adjacent frames, said frames being arranged in pairs, each frame consisting of opposite side and end members, plates of resilient material disposed with their edges between the side and end members of the frames, said side and end members of the frames upon one side of the plates being of greater width than the side and end members upon the opposite side of the plates, the narrower side and end members of the pairs of frames being in engagement, said plates being ar-,

ranged in cooperating pairs-corresponding to the pairs of frames,eachpair of plates having alining apertures formed therein with the material surrounding the same struck outwardly of the pairs of plates to engage opposite portions of the eggs or the like to be shipped in said case or crate, and braces connecting the opposite sides of the frames and engaging the outer sides of the plates to prevent bowing of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

BERTHOLD A. LANGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D C. 

